Volunteering and community participation
OLIVIA APONDI ODIYO
PLANT BREEDER
Eldoret
Summary
Highly motivated and dependable Senior Research Associate and a plant breeder with 9+ years of educational and hands-on experience in maize product development and testing. Vast experience with making new breeding crosses and populations, doubled haploid inductions, parent characterization, descriptor trials and inbred lines management. Honored as a Germplasm acquisition champion in charge of seed inventory and movements across 10 breeding programs for 5 years in a row.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
20
20
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Senior Research Associate
CORTEVA AGRISCIENCE KENYA LIMITED FORMELY DuPONT PIONEER
ELDORET
09.2013 - 09.2022
- Achieved project objectives by troubleshooting experiments and testing practical and creative solutions through precision in data analysis and provide actionable recommendations to the team.
- Collaborated with leadership team to identify relevant gaps and determine best methods of advancing winning products to close these gaps in the market segments.
- Directed, guided and delegated tasks to field teams outlining the breeding resource requirements and timelines to maintain productivity on goals and objectives.
- Communicated breeding program status to leadership and colleagues verbally through meetings and in also through technical documentation and presentations.
- Initiated, planned and executed research projects under supervision of senior scientist.
- Sorted data into well-organized formats and transformed into figures to help easily draw inferences and conclusions.
- In-charge of soil sampling and analysis, soil improvement programs and soil nutrient conservation measures
- Coordinating shipping of seeds and other plant materials within the country and across regions with similar breeding objectives through centralization of resources
- Screening for all phytosanitary pests and diseases during active plant growth stages and through laboratory testing in liaison with plant regulatory authorities
- Champion Environmental, Health, Safety and Security (EHS&S) for the team, ensuring all Occupational Safety and Health legislations standards and protocols at work place are implemented and adhered to as per the local governing laws.
Research graduate
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI/INTERNATIONAL MAIZE AND WHEAT IMPROVEMENT CENTER (CIMMYT)
NAIROBI
03.2011 - 08.2013
- Completed administrative and research duties per the senior scientist request.
- Supervise seed packaging and trials allocation and disbursements
- Organize planting teams and champion planting and agronomic management of breeding nurseries and yield trials across locations
- Scouting and control of pests and diseases
- Recorded data electronically, and organized the data into FieldBook software for analysis.
- Contributed to professionally written scientific papers and peer-reviewed journals for publication.
- Under the direction of the scientist coordinate the university’s project research activities across locations in Kenya i.e on-farm experiments
- As directed, provide technical assistance to visiting scientists and students
- Keep detailed records and documentation on the progress of all field activities, quantities of inputs used in a season, number of casuals engaged per month and pay rolls for accounting purposes.
- Write my thesis and present my findings, conclusions and recommendations to CIMMYT team and my University professors.
Graduate Crop Science Trainee
BILASHAKA FLOWERS LIMITED
NAIVASHA
06.2009 - 08.2009
- Under the field attachment programme I was exposed to the following areas:
- Green house planting on hydroponics
- Cultural practices of Roses varieties
- Scouting and control of Pests and Diseases
- Pack house activities and post-harvest handling
- Human resource and accounting functions
- Worker Social Welfare and Corporate Social Responsibility programmes
- Audit programmes for MPS and Kenya Flower Council
- Occupational Safety and Health programmes.
- Worked in various departments to gain hands-on experience, prepared a summary report and presented to the University panel as per the course requirements.
Education
Master of Science - Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
University of Nairobi
NAIROBI 10.2010 - 12.2013
Bachelor of Science - Agriculture (Crop Science
University of Nairobi
NAIROBI 10.2006 - 12.2010
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education - Grade B- (Minus)
Nyabisawa Secondary School, S.E
MIGORI 01.2000 - 11.2004
Kenya Certificate of Primary Education
Ezra Gumbe Primary School
KISUMU 01.1992 - 12.1999
Skills
Research and analysis
undefinedAccomplishments
- 2021 Partnered with Ministry of Agriculture in Uasin Gishu county under the Agricultural Sector Development Support Programme (ASDSP) to train farmers on sustainable agriculture and food production
- 2020 Elected to be a representative of female employees in Kenya hub dubbed “African Women in Agriculture.”
- 2015 Elected to be Germplasm Stewardship Champion to oversee movement of seed material in and out of the country2011 Participated in a training on Team Building organised by Resource Associates Limited
- 2010 Awarded the University of Nairobi Scholarship to pursue my Master’s Degree
- 2009 Participated and completed the 6km Hunger Walk held by Intervarsity campaign team against hunger “I stand to be counted.”
- 2008 Enrolled as a Youth Member of the Kenya Red Cross Society, joining with others all over the world to offer humanitarian support for the well-being, health and resilience of communities.
Interests
Travelling
Socializing and networking
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Quote
There is a powerful driving force inside every human being that, once unleashed, can make any vision, dream, or desire a reality.
Tony Robbins
Timeline
Senior Research Associate
CORTEVA AGRISCIENCE KENYA LIMITED FORMELY DuPONT PIONEER
09.2013 - 09.2022
Research graduate
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI/INTERNATIONAL MAIZE AND WHEAT IMPROVEMENT CENTER (CIMMYT)
03.2011 - 08.2013
Master of Science - Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
University of Nairobi
10.2010 - 12.2013
Graduate Crop Science Trainee
BILASHAKA FLOWERS LIMITED
06.2009 - 08.2009
Bachelor of Science - Agriculture (Crop Science
University of Nairobi
10.2006 - 12.2010
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education - Grade B- (Minus)
Nyabisawa Secondary School, S.E
01.2000 - 11.2004
Kenya Certificate of Primary Education
Ezra Gumbe Primary School
01.1992 - 12.1999
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